Plate-printing machine.



No. 823.878. PATBNTBD JUNE 19, 1906.

G. H. KBNDALL.

PLATE PRINTING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION yFILED DEO. 9, 19x05.

PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

.Gg II. KENDALL. .PLATE PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEUY9. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUW 5VWO/mio@ VUUUUUU y vifknwoeo PATENTND IUNEIQ, 1906. G. H. KENDALL. 'III PRINTING MACHINE.`

PLA

APPLICATION FIILED DEO. 9. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 823,878. PAIENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

G. H. KENDALL. PLATE PRINTTNG MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOFILBD DEC. 9. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.'

cfvilmcosco all as will he more fully 4- plan View o; the bed. Fig. 3 is a detail side a machine of this character which shall be -iinally particularly 'rection to that of Fig. 1, and Fig-7 isa sec- `must be carefu ly inke( and then wiped oil' .in order to secure the-best results.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT oar-Ion.

GEORGE HOVEY KENDALL OF YORK, N. YQ

PLATE-Pnlnrme. MACHINE.

.To all whom it muy con ieri/t: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE Hover KEN- DA'LL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of ew York, in the boroughof Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Printing' Machines, of which the following isa full, clear, and-exact descri ition,

My invention relates to traveling-heii-plate machines. I

The purpose of the invention is to provide com )act and efiicient and which shall be capab e of turning. out vthe highest grade of plate-printing work, such as L bank-notes, treasury .certiiieates, bonds, securities, and thelike.

With these and other objects inrview my invention consists in the construction', 'combination, location, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and

pointed out in the appended claims.

i In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 isa detail elevationof the im )ression-eylinder. is an end View of tlie same. Fig. 5 is ai sectional View showing the impression-cylinder and a portion of the bed.- Fig. 6 is a side ele-V vation of the machine from the opposite' di- Fig. 4

tion on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrmvs.

Plate-printing as now performed is a very difficult and ex )ensive operation. The plate with a cloth which must have a surface suitable for the work, and afterward the surface must be polished. The-plate is then run through the pressin contactwith tlre surface to. be printed and under heavy pressure. All of this is now commonlydone on a forniof hand-press in which the operator wipes theplate by' hand andv subsequently rolls it through thermachine by means of a large hand-wheel. While power-presses have been used, theyr have not been successful up to lthe present time on accountof the too mechanical nature of their operation. It seems to be necessary to have a machine of great precision and simplicity which shall be so strongly built as to avoid vibration and which shall as closely as possible imitate hand-work Specification or' Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1906. Serial No. 291,030.

provided which is a most essential means of gear 165,4 meshing .Patented June 19, 1 906.l

Referring nowl to the drawings and to the various Views and reference-signs appearing thereon, in which like, parts are designated by the same reference-sign wherever they occur, 1 indicates the frame of a plate-printing machine embodying the principles of m invenhan ed direction Fig.` 1 of the drawings.

All the moving arts of m machine are o )verat'ed more or ess direct y from this main operating-shaft 6 ,and I regard this as an important feature 'of my invention. By this means perfect synchronism ofthe parts is attained and a simple and rigid-construction requisite of mechanical plate-machines. 'Ihe printingcouple is driven from the operating-shaft 6 through a crank 11 and pitman 12, connected at 13 to the 1ock11g-lever=.14, which is ivoted at 15 to the main frameyof the machine; 16 denotes they bed of the machine, Which'is guided to reciprocate to and fro upon the machine and is im )elled in such movement by a link 17 exten ing to the up er end of the rocking lever 14, above descri ed.

I provide a practical construction for bindl ing and supporting the b ed comprising side guides 162, arranged to overhang and osition the. hed in its sliding movement, an a bearing-roller 163, jonrnaled in the frame at 164, which serves neath the line of printing-contact. I prefer to -gear this roller directly to the bed by with rack 16 upon the under side of the bed.

In order to secure an inspection ofthe wiped plate, I forni the bed 164 in a special way,- having a nolonged extension 18 at its forward end. Ipon this extension and exo support the bed directly'be-y IOO tending throughout the length of the bed I` i secure the rack 19, meshing with the gear 2O upon the impression-cylinder 21. This iin'- l)ression-cylinder is jonrnaled in verticallysliding bearings 2. 'upon the mainframeof the machine so as to be oscillated to and fro by the rack 19 wheneverthe bed 16 isv reciproeated in the manner above described; By'viri ne of the arrangement of the rackIQ en the extension i8 it will be seen that the effective printing portion of the boo', which corresponds to the central portion ot the thr. W thereof, or, in other words, the eentrnl portion of the rech. it), is quite neer the ire-e end of the bed, will be seen in Fig. 2. ris the operating-shaft o rotates the bed 16 is reciproceted back and 'forth beneath the iniression-cylinder 2], which. latter is oscilihtecl thereby, so es to produce e perfect rolling contact between the two surfaces et the printing-couple. Y 23 indicates the engir'rverh etched, or otherwise-prepared platte, which is secured to the bed 16 at n4 point substantially opposite the central portieri ol the throw thereof, which corresponds to a locution somewhere neer its free end, as shown in Fig. 2 and as above described. in this wey the plate is in convenient reach of the, operator, who stands near the right-hand end of the machine, in Fig. t, toexereise a general surveillance of its operations. In its reciprocntion the plete passes from this position in front of the operator irst under the impression-cylinder 21 end subsequently under certain inlting end/wiping devices which will be later described, and thence again under the impression-cylinder. lY employ any ordina-ry form of throw-ofi` in carrying out my invention which raises the impression-cylinder 21 sway from the bed upon such return or forward stroke.

A convenient form of throw-ott1 mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7, comprising a heavy rock-shaft 24, having downwardlyprojecting cranks, (shown at $25,) to which are secured the links 26, which drew downward the impressiori-cylinder in vertical guides 27. 28 shows in dotted lines n springpressed link which constantly tends to throw the cranks to the left, so as to drew downward the impression-cylinder. The rotation of the operating-shaft 6 is effective to bring,r e cam 29 periodically into contact with the roller 30 upon one of the cranks 25, which positively raises the impressiou-cylimler u on every forward stroke of the bed lo. l also connect e handle to the shalt 24 for throwing oil 'the impression-cylinder whenever desired, the details of which are particularly illustrated in Fig. 6. 302 indicates the hand-lever pivoted to the .traine of the nutcliine et 30'd and having e link 304 extending,r to a rocking bell-crank lever 30". 'lhc toe 30" of this lever may be rocked into position to intercept the movement of the cranks 2F es they swingt' downwind under the influence of spring-rod 28, before mentioned, thereby preventing un in iprcssion whenever the throw-oil" lever 302 is moved backward by the opcriitoif y At :t point behind the impression-eylinder 'l provide inlting mcchnni: n l'or thc and this muy be ol' any suitn essere construction. in the drawings l have indicurtcd un ink-reservoir .'31 in contuct with :i roller 32, which is turned :it iutcrvnls through it vinying degree by it crunk 33 und pitnmn connection 34 from the main opcrutingshaft G. 35 indicates n. ductor-roller which oscilhrtes buck und forth by menus ot crnulis .36 :incl n rcciprocnting:r rod 37, driven by :t

, cam 38 upon the plint-shalt l5, shove described. 39 indicates nu inh-cnrryiur roll which is positively geared through un idler 40 to the hiking-roller proper, l1,which is in turn geared to the rue ft2 kupou the bed 1V, which is conveniently ixtcnded bevond the bed to the lett, its :it 12", so its to ulwnys re.- mnin in mesh with idler Ltl). By this menus the inking-rollcr 3S) is given it peripheral speed always equal to the. speed ot movement of the bed and rolls over the, printingplate without friction when in contact therewith. I do not regard the tentures of this` inlring mechanism ssnovel with mc but it is nccessnry to explain this construction in order that the nctioii ol' the wipers later described may be molle clear.

The wiping mechenism embodies pair of pods 43, which extend trmisversely across the machine and urc'supportcd :it their ends by rocking cranks 4&1, jouruuled :tt Al5 nud rf. :.iprocnted from :t pitmz11i4t3,mul crunk 47, driven by e beveled gono/8 from the. powershnft 2. l. lead over the surface ot these pads Lt3 at fabric,prel'eroblyol cunton-ilunnol, and l employ n method ol' utilizing this fuhric,wl1ich l. believe to be novel, with the present invention. Instcrid of feeding the fabric. continuously e. small amount nt euch printing operation, l secure the wiping-cloth in ttbsolutcly stationary relation upon the pods, in which position it successively wipes over the plete und prepures thc sume imprinting. By this method the wiping-surfece acquires cherau'teristics entirely .lill'erent from those of it wiper which is continuously or intermittently l'ed. .It wiper which is continuously l'ed presents to the plnte u .strip of' new clezin surface ttt/catch printinr operation which is rough and tibrous und o at character likely to injure the plete und preclude mi ellicieut wiping operation. With my intention l stort with n perfectly clenn wiping-f-:uxfuce, which does not rive the best results l'or at number ol impressions; but utter :t low printing; operations it becomes covered with zi thin costing ol' ink which serves to cement down the projecting libcrs und give the cloth it smooth lenthcry linish, which is nnulogous to the condition ot' the humain hund. 'lho small umouut oi ink which the cloth hns upon its surface is not sullieient to lento ink upon the polished ports ot' the plete, but coutinues to adhere to the cloth by reusou ol' thc more fibrous nature ot tho lutter. `(in y plutc, the other hund, by virtue ot the smoother blc or desired `wiping-surim-c, the ink is lett m the hoest IOO IOS

-V length o 'crevioes of the -is left by It will be 'sessie plate in the same manner as it the action of the hand in polishing. understood that after the cloth has once attained a roper condition the supply of. inkved from t e reservoir 31 may be very inuch cut down and only a very small qualibe changed; but the .cloth remains in condition for perfect operation vfor quite a long time and often-'long enough Atocht-ain many thousand im ressions. This method of printing, it Wi be observed, is economical in but these are not oth wiping-cloth and ink purpose being to the main objects, the main secure perfect printing results equal, if not. superior, to those now obtained by the hand process.

52 and 53, upon which act' 545- 1 of the ,handriii wiping. 1 After thepads 48 the i plate continues to pass forward can be oseillated to turnthe rolls.

49 indicates the'fabric which constitutes my wi ver', and I lead this -fabiic from a sup- 50 to a vtake-up roll 51. Each of these rolls has nieansby which it can be stepped around. whenever desired, and I "d have shown for this purpose ratchet-wheels pawl-carryiiig levers 54 and 55, each having a handle which It will be apparent that whenever the wiping-surface becomes unsuitable for further use on account of being fouled by too much ink, the operator merely manipulates ,the handles'S-i and- 55 to drawaround the wiping-cloth.

The printing operation in its essential characteristicswill now be understood. The paper is carried by the iinl'iression-eylinder and the plate 23 is initially located in front of the o erator'and at the' extreme righthand enrFof the machine in Fig. 1. The bed nieves to the left, carryin the printing-plate under the impression-cy inder and making the impression, after which the inking-roller 41 comes into action to supply a'uniforin layer of the ink over the surface of the plate. The bed now commences its return movement, in which the plate is first drawn beneath the wipers 43, which remove the ink from the polished parts in the manner above described.l In this action they are assisted' by their peculiar oscillating-or rocking movenient, which somewhat imitates the motion an entirely new surface of beneath the y .impression-cylinder (which is raised at this ltime) to the extreme right-hand position in iront of the operator.

In lthis position the operator mayinspect the isin proper condition and pass his hand over the same to wipeit more perfectly, if he dep not absolutely essential. yIt is customary,

movement f the Vof the grippers.

plate and see that it,`

however,; for the opn erator to do this, since he has no other occu-c pation at this moment, andin some cases a yplate is not properly wiped by the automatic `.wipers b reason of the'accumulation of too much in on `the pads 43, or other" reason.'

In any case as a result of the eilicient wiping ofv the. pads43 and the'iiispcction of thc ator,together withsuch hand-wiping as he may Inake, the plate finally passes forward' beneath the `impression-surface in perfect condition, where/it impresses against .the pape'iin the usual way.

will -now describe vbriefly the features of v the impression-cylinder by which holds and carries the paper to be printed. l am aware -thatthese features are not broadly new in this machine; but I regard the various fr oiitstop ai-fdgpipper-operating ineansas a part of the invention in the manner they arc organized into the present machine.

Referring particularly to Figs.' 4 and 5 of the'drawings, 60 denotes a ripper-carryingshaft pivoted in the ends ofhthe impressioncylinder 21 and carrying grippcr-iingersl, arranged to bear against a portion of thc cylinder and grip the paper thercagainst. 6 2

rying shaft 60, which isfnoi'mally springpressed in a direction to close the grippers upon the cylinder byy a spring 63. 64 indicates a cam-arm which maybe rocked into the path of the cam ofthe rock-arm 62,' so as to move the latterl against its spring 63 and raise thev grippers' away from thei cylinder. For this purpose the cam-arm 64 is carried by a shaft 65, which can be oscillatcd from a.

esignates a rock-arm upon the grippcr-car- ICO rod 66, extending into proximity to the main operating-shaft 6. Also extending into proximity to the operating-shaft 6 is a second rod connection 67, which works the usual front stop 68. Both of lthe rods 66 and 67 are guided by an extension 69 from the frame and carry cam-rollers 7() and 71 at their lower ends.' Upon the fa'ce ofthe gear 1-0, previously described, I arrange 'cani projections v72, 73, and 75h The roller 7() is in the patlrpl. projections '72 and 73, sol that as the mainoperating-shaft 6 rotates the. the gripper-fingers rod 66 will beraised and opened two times during each cyclioi1 .operations Aof the machine. This movenieit of the gripper-fingers corresponds to thefaction of grasping and releasing the sheet, respectively.

The roller 7l is in the path oi the projection 74, which is so located as todepress the front stops68 inproper relation to the movement I also provide stripper-:fingers for withdrawing the printed sheet from the iinpression-cylinder, as particularly illustrated in Figs.. 4 and -5. i

75' indicates a row of stripper-fingersymounted on a rock-shaft 7 6, which is oscillated,at certain times by a rod connection 77.

The rod 77 iS `guided to i'nove vertically andA has -at' its bottom end a bearing portion 78,

IIO

ISO

which is designed to be engaged hy a cam or t thrown away from the impressiori-cylin-` der, in which position they remain during the first part ot' the return stroke, when the impression-cylinder is takin from the feed-board. iV en, however, the cylinder has progressed a ortion of a revolution, the. rod 78 is engageihhy the cam-wedge 79 and the stripper-fingers 75 thrown against the impression-cylinder, so that the paper is stripped oitl of the cylinder and ted into the hands ot" the operator, who 1s ina position to receive it. At. the instant the paper is about. to he. stripped from the cylinder by the stripper-iingers 75 the gripper-fingers 6l are of course released by the cam 72, and the sheet is simultaneously deflected away from the cylindery by certain additional lifter-fingers 80. The. fingers 8() are supported on a rockshatt 81 upon the cylinder, which has a caniarm 82 thereon vextending peripherally for a portion of the cylinder.

83 indicates a rock-arm, which is mounted adjacent to the cylinder and adapted to be depressed under certain conditions by a rod 85, hearer 8S, and cam-wedge 8S), similar to the parts 77, 73, and 79, above i'iescrihed. The parts are so timed that the arm 83 is rocked into engagement with the cam-arm R2 and raises the delector-lingersQO at the instant when the grippers releasc'and the stripper-fingersv are about. to operate. In this way by the release ofthe grippers and the action of the lifter-'fingers 8() the sheet. is positively deflected onto the stripper-lingers and delivered trom the machine.

The operation of my invention will he understood lrom the preceding description. A, feeding` assistant stands ordinarily` at one side of the machine with a. pile of sheets upon the fwd-board 5S). 'lhese are successively placed in a position opposite tllefront. stop (i8, whereby they are automatically grasped,

by the impression-cylinderand carried around into contact with the advancing hed and plate. l From thence they are stripped ott' by the stripper-fingers 75 and pass into the hands of the feediingr assistant who is on the lookout to receive them. ln the meantime the bed has continued its motion toward the left. and carried the plate beneath the hikingrollcr 4l and subsequently under the wiperpads 43 and thence beneath the impressioncylinder (which is thrown oll' al this time) into a position where it is inspected by the opcratoriand where 'it is again ready to make an impression on the next 'shect ted.

A practical feature ol my" `nnichine relates to the manner in which its motion may he ar- `rested atl any time in case a. sheet is improperly fed. The operation of the throw-oil' nnder these circumstances has been described a sheet oit paper l hut thc throw-ofi' lever is ordinarily only operable by the feeding assistant. and is7 furthermore, not sutliciently effective to prevent damage to the machine or printingplate in case a. crumpled sheet is moving toward the printing-point. I therefore provide. within easy reach ot' the operator a tootpedal S6, which has a. very powerful brakeslioe H7 thereon adjacent. to the periphery of the main drive-wheel inasmuch as this drive-wheel is geared byreduction-gearing; to the operating-shaft. 6 the. braking-pressure upon it is very etiective to instantly arrest the motion oir` thc machine.. The driving-l motor is of course provided wi th an ordinary form oi magnetic cut-out, so that the motor is automatically stopped hy reason of the. increased power iin osed sinniltaneously with the action of the. lirake. 'lhus the power is shut oil and the machine. instantly iirrested at any time desired by the mere depression oi' the pedals 86 by the foot ofthe operator.

What. l claim isi- 1. In a plate-printing machine, a main power-shaft, an operating-shaft geared to said main power-shaft, a bed carrying a rack connected to he reciprocated b v said main power-shaft, an iinpression-cylinder :reared to said rack, front. stops and gripper-lingers, link connections from said front stops and additional link connections arranged to operate said gripper-lingers extending in proximity to said main operating-shaft, and means on said operating-slml`t for impingintr against said links to operate said par'ts. said means beingV so timed as to canse a sheet. to be received and delivered upon rearward movements of said bed, wherebv an impression is made by the printing-plate al'ter it has` been inspected by the operator.

2. ln a plate-printingr machine, a bed carryinpr a rack and having ils end eut away adjacent. to such rack` whereby an opening' is lel't for the operator to stand and inspect the plate, an impression-cylinder geared to said rack, and hiking means and wipers on each side ol' said 'impression-cvlinder from that where the operatorstands.

3. ln a plate-printing machine, a hed having a rack and a cut-wnvay p ortion at one end adjacent4 to said rack whereby an opening is let't l'or the operator to stand and inspect the plate, an impressioli-cylinder geared to said rack. inkincr means and wipers in the rear of said im n'ession-cylinder, andrneans for moving,r san bed to initially present the plate for inspection by the operator and subsev uently pass it beneath the impression-cylinder and inkine' and wiping means.

L [n a plate-printing machine, a reciproeatin;r hed having an extension at its forward end, a rack upon said bed projecting)r over said extension, an impression-cylinder geared to said rack, a printing-plate u )on said bedin proximity to said forwarden of the-bed, and inlcing and `wi l: IO

- by the under imity to the end of said bed,

- at is rear end,

and wiping means.

cating bed having a rac ing means, whereom'a position in the same may pass front of the operator successively under the impression-cy nder and under the. inking 5Lv In a plate-printing machine,a main frame havin anl operating-shaft, a itman connection t erefrom, a bed guided y said frame t'o have av iXed movement from said pitman, a rack on said bed and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, an impression-cylinder in mesh with said rack, an additional rack on the bed projectin be ond the rear end thereof, a bearing-rolIer aving a gear in mesh with said rack, and a printingplate at one vend of said`bed',i\whereby thel same is initially in position to be vinspected operator, and thensnccessively passes the impression-cylinder and under ink-f ing and wiping means. t r

6. In a plate-printing machine, a frame having al main operating-shaft, a hed guided to reciprocatein saidv frame, a pitman connection from said operating-shaft to said bed, a rack upon said bed and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, an impression-cylinderv geared to said rack atsubstantially the central portion of its throw, an additional rack projecting beyond thel rear end of the bed, a bearing-roller having a ear in mesh with said rack, and a printing-p ate in proxwherebyit snc- .cessively passes under said impression-cylinder and under inking and wiping`means.

7. In a plate-printing machineia frame having a main operating-shaft, a bed guided to reciprocate in said frame, a pitman connection Jfrom said operating-shaft to said bed, -and a cut-'away portion Aon said bed adjacent' to the printing-plate, whereby Athe operatormay inspect the work prior to its passage nnder the impression-cylinder.

8. In a plate-printin machine, a frame havin a reciprocating ed, an 'im essionc'ylin er geared thereto, inking an wiping means at one der, a feed-board at the same si e of sai innpression-cylinder and a cut-awa 'said bed w for the operator to inspect the werk;

9. Ina plate-priiitin machine, a reciproprojecting forwardly therefrom at its `forward endg, an impression-cylinder in'gear with said rack, a second rack upon the bed projecting beyond the bed Y 'iking' mechanism in gear withsaid last-named rack, and wiping means side of said .impression-c linportion on' crehy a clear space?, is .provided I eating able therewith for throwing said stripper-i.

wedgefor operating said intermediate said impression-cylinder and inking mechanism whereby stand in a position to wipe the lateregar less of the movements ofthe bed the operator may 10. In a plate-printing machine, a recipro bed having a plate pression-cylinder journaled above said plate and arranged to contact therewith upon the rearward stroke of the bed, stripper-fingers adjacent to 'said impression-cylind and cani-surfaces ixed upon said bed and me c,

ers into operative relation' as the bed coiny pletes its rearward movement. n

1].. In a plate-printing machine, a recipro- Y a printing-plate thereon,

eating bedhaving an impression-cylinder above said bed, sti lper-fingers adjacent to the-upper periplia. surface ,of said said cylinder, an

cam means u on said be thereon, an nnc linder, lifter-fingers. upon for operatin said stripper and iiter fingers.

12. In a p ate-printing catin .bed having a Vrmting-platefthereon near its forward end, an impression-cylinder machine, a reciprojournaled slightly forward ofthe mean posin tion of the throw of said plate, stripper and lifter fingers in operative relation to said 11n-- pression-cylinder, and a pair of cam-surfaces u on the bed for operating said stripper and. li ter `'fingers asthe bed completes its rearward movement.

13. In a plate-printing machine, a reciproa eating bed having a printing-plate thereon, an impression-cylinder journa ed above said plate, stripper-fingers operatively related to said impression-c face upon said be for lowerin said stripperiin ers, lifter-fingers "upon t e. impressioncylinder,

the stri per-lingers are lowered.

plate-printing ing, 'a bed, `means forreciprocating sai bed and .a comparatively shoitcam-l lifter-iingers when linder, aAcam-Wedge sur- I IOC from saidoperating-shat, an impression-cylvinder, front stops and gripper-fingers opera- I g -tively related to said impression-cylinder,

ating said front stops and grippers as 'and cams upon said operating-shaft'for actuthe bed movesrearward.

In witness whereofI ture inthe presence of two witnesses.

GEORGEHO KENDALL. Witnesses: f

KARL GLEAsoN, GEO. DAN, KNOX.

I ,subscribe my signa- 

